This is a growing collection of free genealogy books and documents. Read or download the free PDFs.
In 1974, sisters Mrs. Dwight Burney and Mrs. Irvin Anderson, edited a centennial celebration for the town of Polk Nebraska titled Polk Memoirs: Where Corn is King, 1874-1974. In this manuscript they and other townsfolks provide a look at the people and businesses that made up Polk in both the past and present. Genealogists should pay special attention to the families section.
James R. Fuchs’ “A History of Williams, Arizona, 1876-1951” chronicles the development of the small Arizona town of Williams. Established in 1881, Williams began as a post office, then a railroad camp. The town’s economy shifted from ranching and railroading to lumbering, and finally, to tourism thanks to its proximity to the Grand Canyon.
It is the purpose of this volume to capture and preserve some of the more striking activities of a few prominent leaders of Sandy Basin, as learned from available records and the existing recollections of the pioneers, and to show how the men and women of its earlier days lived and exerted themselves to make a living for their own families and to be of service to their less fortunate neighbors.
The dam that impounds the North Fork of Pound Reservoir is situated on the North Fork of the Pound River, approximately 184 miles upstream from the mouth of the Big Sandy River and 1.1 miles upstream from the mouth of the North Fork in Wise County, Virginia. Construction of the dam commenced in 1962. Cemeteries located above the dam and within the impoundment areas were relocated to higher ground, respecting the preferences of the closest living relatives. Detailed records of these relocations are provided here, including the names of the nearest kin at the time of each grave removal.
This document provides a history of Fairgrove Township, Michigan, from its beginnings as unsettled land to its development as a community by 1956. It uses stories of individual families to show how the community of Fairgrove grew and changed over time.
In the heart of the United States, nestled within the vast expanse of the Great Plains, lies Fremont, Nebraska—a town whose story encapsulates the indomitable spirit of American settlement and growth. “The Prairie Venture: Fremont Nebraska Centennial History 1856-1956,” penned by Carroll W. Thompson, offers a detailed chronicle of this remarkable community from its founding through to its centennial celebration. Through meticulous research and captivating narrative, Thompson not only records the pivotal moments in Fremont’s history but also paints a vivid picture of the challenges, triumphs, and transformations that define this community.
This special edition of the Daily World, largely written in 1955 by Ruth Robertson Fontenot, celebrates the 150th anniversary of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, detailing its history from the 1690s. Ruth Fontenot, a descendant of local pioneer families, extensively researched using parish records and private archives to provide a comprehensive view of the area’s early days, despite gaps due to historical record shortages. Supplemental contributions on specific areas like northern St. Landry Parish and Eunice were made by Sue Lyles Eakin and Mary Alice Fontenot, respectively. The publication is rich with historical photographs and includes personal insights into the region’s development, showcasing the significant local contributions of the families of St. Landry Parish.
A History of Newburgh Lodge No. 174, F. & A.M. provides a historical account of the lodge, detailing its founding in Newburgh, Indiana, in 1854. It traces the origins to an inaugural meeting under a dispensation with key figures like Draper Chipman and Azel Freeman leading the lodge. The narrative connects local events such as the burial of Mason John W. Palmer in 1851, hinting at an earlier Masonic presence in Newburgh. The chapter also paints a vivid picture of Newburgh in the 1850s as a bustling river port with significant economic activity and cultural vibrancy, suggesting these factors contributed to the establishment of the Masonic lodge. I have provided you an index to the genealogical information found in the section on “Our First One Hundred Years” 1855-1955.
Lelia McAnally Batte’s History of Milam County, Texas presents a comprehensive exploration of the county’s evolution from its earliest days to the mid-twentieth century. Published in 1956 by the Naylor Company in San Antonio, this 257-page work delves into the myriad forces that have shaped Milam County, making it a unique yet representative reflection of Texas’ broader historical and cultural dynamics.
The publication “Historical Celebration, Waterloo, 1856-1956: A Century of Progress in Living” commemorates the centennial of Waterloo, Indiana, reflecting on its development since its establishment in 1856 and serves as a history of Waterloo Indiana for those years. This official record, compiled by the Waterloo Centennial Commission, captures a detailed historical account from the town’s early days, spurred by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, to its evolution into a vibrant community by 1956. It covers the growth of local businesses, churches, schools, and public services, alongside the socio-economic changes marked by industrial and commercial advancements. The centennial celebration itself, with its parades and community involvement, is also highlighted, alongside stories of notable residents and transformative events.
This valuable collection of marriage records survived a courthouse fire in 1895. The 1595 marriages documented in Clinton County Missouri Marriage Records, 1833-1870 are taken from Books A and B. While parental information is sometimes missing, the author has supplemented the records with additional research from historical sources to aid further investigation. A “Key to Ministers and Justices” is included to identify the officiants of each marriage.
These marriage records were abstracted from unbound marriage bonds and licenses in the Liberty County Courthouse, Hinesville, Georgia. The names were copied as they were spelled on the bonds, often barely legible and often spelled differently on the same bond. Sometimes the marriages were performed before the licenses were issued. The first date given in the abstracts is the date of the license or bond; the second is the date of marriage. The following abbreviations are used in these abstracts with the meaning indicated:
Published in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1956 and distributed by the Genealogical Publishing Company of Baltimore, Maryland, Sevier County, Tennessee: Population Schedule of the United States Census of 1830 (Fifth Census) provides a transcription of the often difficult to read, 1830 Sevier County Tennessee census. Authored by Blanche C. McMahon and Pollyanna Creekmore, this meticulous reproduction of the original census record sheds light on the people of Sevier County in 1830.
“The Story of Wise County, Virginia” by Luther F. Addington, published in 1956 by the Centennial Committee and School Board of Wise County, Virginia, serves as a historical record of the county from its inception through its first hundred years. Wise County, established in 1856 from sections of Russell, Lee, and Scott counties, carries the name of Governor Henry Alexander Wise, highlighting its significance in the state’s political and social life. This text outlines the county’s formation, development, and the various elements that have shaped its identity, including geography, notable events, and significant figures.
This survey of Wintergreen Cemetery, Port Gibson, Mississippi, was completed in 1956 by Mr. Gordon M. Wells and published by Joyce Bridges the same year. It contains the cemetery readings Mr. Wells was able to obtain at that date. It is highly likely that not all of the gravestones had survived up to that point, and it is even more likely that a large portion of interred individuals never had a gravestone.
The wills in this book come from Book A of the Wills found at the Logan County Court house in Russellville, Kentucky. The information was extracted in 1957 by Mrs. Vick on behalf of the DAR located in Russellville. The text in this book was done with an old manual typewriter and has the usual faint and filled-in type often found with such papers. On top of the difficulty in interpreting the print from the typewriter, the scanning process was also deficient, and led to the creation of a faint digital copy exacerbating the difficult to read text.
In “History of Jefferson County, Oklahoma,” Jim M. Dyer provides a comprehensive account of the development and heritage of Jefferson County within the broader context of Oklahoma’s growth since its inception as a state in the Union. This work is particularly significant as it commemorates Oklahoma’s Semi-Centennial, marking fifty years of statehood filled with rich productivity and development. Dyer’s exploration is driven by a multifaceted purpose: to celebrate the state’s achievements, to preserve the memory of Jefferson County’s “birth and growth” for future generations, and to honor the pioneers whose resilience and dedication laid the foundations for the county’s prosperity.
This microfilm is a copy of the original records located at the Kentucky State Historical Society in Frankfort and microfilmed in 1975. It is an incomplete copy of the set of records for each county but can provide the information for the specific counties and years as denoted in the list.
Published in 1957, ‘The History of Carter County’ provides a comprehensive visual and textual history of Carter County Oklahoma. Covering the period from its Native American origins to the mid-20th century, the book focuses on the themes of Native American presence, settlement, churches, utilities, transportation, and industry. In doing so, it serves as a tribute to the people who shaped Carter County.
“Spokane Story: A Colorful Early History of the Capital City of the Inland Empire” by Lucile Foster Fargo offers readers an evocative journey through the formative years of Spokane, Washington. Published in 1957 by Northwestern Press in Minneapolis, this work seeks to straddle the realms of history and storytelling, presenting a narrative that is neither entirely factual history nor pure fiction. Fargo accepts the challenging task of depicting Spokane’s cultural and developmental evolution from its fur trade beginnings to its emergence as a municipal entity in the early twentieth century.